SHS grapplers 7th in St. Louis tourney

Monday, December 6, 2004Staff reports

ST. LOUIS -- Sikeston wrestlers finished seventh in a 12-team tournament, comprised primarily of St. Louis-area teams, at Affton High School on Saturday.

"I was pleased with how well we did with primarily a freshmen and sophomore team," said Sikeston coach Ivan Robison. "One bright spot was our performance against Union, who is now in our district. I think we won every head-to-head match with them.

The Bulldogs' all-state senior Joe Johnson continued to roll over opponents with five pins in five matches to claim the heavyweight championship. Johnson, who pinned each opponent in less than a minute, improved to 7-0 on the season, all pin falls.

Freshman Craig Burton captured second in the 125-pound division. Burton pinned Terry Brockschmidt of Affton in the semifinals, then lost by pin to Logan LaPlant of Hancock at the 3:49 mark of the final.

Freshman Dee Bizzell and sophomore Logan Berry placed third.

Bizzell, undefeated in two 103-pound pool matches, lost by fall to Joe Whittington of Ladue at the 3:07 mark of the semifinals, then won the third-place match by a technical fall (18-3) over Jason Washington of Sumner.

Berry also won all his pool matches in the 135-pound division, then lost a close decision (19-16) to Mike Gordon of Ladue in the semifinals. Berry decisioned Mark Ayoub of Affton by an 18-7 score to clinch third place.

Sikeston heavyweight Robert Madison finished fourth, winning all three pool matches by pin fall before losing to teammate Johnson in the semifinals, then to Sumner's G. Turner in the third-place match.

Another freshman Cody Anderson placed fifth in the 130-pound class. He pinned Caleb Gladwell of Union in the consolation semis, then decisioned Eric Moore of Cleveland NJROTC for the fifth-place medal.

Two sophomores, Logan White and Chris Northern, placed sixth in their respective divisions.

The 140-pound White won the consolation semifinal by pin fall at 3:49 over Warren Clayton of Affton, then lost to Robert Dunn of Hancock by pin fall in the fifth-place contest.

Northern also won his consolation semifinal by pin fall over Stan Strubberg of Ladue at the 4:27 mark, then lost by fall to Mitchell of Sumner in the fifth-place match.

A third Sikeston heavyweight, Josh Northern, advanced to the consolation semifinal before losing by pin fall to Nathan Hunter of Union.

Three other team members, Seth Baker, Ashton Cantrell and Gavilan Bland, failed to advance out of the pool matches.